Bayern Munich has endured a rough start under new manager Niko Kovac and their rather old and thin squad seems past their peak, with younger players like Kingsley Coman, Corentin Tolisso and Thiago out injured. They have picked up positive results returned since mid-October, but they are not performing to their best, illustrated by several narrow wins against lesser sides.

Dortmund are full of confidence after a 7-0 win against Nürnberg on Wednesday, which saw them move up to the second spot. They are yet to win away from home, however and will meet a dangerous Leverkusen side here.

Having been booed by German fans in pre-World Cup friendlies, Ozil quit the national team following Germany’s shock early exit from the finals in Russia and with his parting shot he accused DFB president Reinhard Grindel of racism.

“We’ve always tried to integrate all the players and we’ve also done everything for our teammates to make them feel good going into games,” said Neuer at Bayern’s pre-season training camp in southern Bavaria.

Lewandowski, 29, whose Bayern contract runs until 2021, has been linked with Real Madrid while Qatari-backed Paris Saint-Germain and Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester United are also understood to be interested.

He was the Bundesliga’s top scorer in the just-completed season with 29 goals.

Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng says his departure from Schalke felt “like a punch in the face” with the clubs to clash in Wednesday’s German Cup semifinal.

Boateng, 31, still carries bad memories after being released by Schalke in December 2015, six months after he was suspended over a “lack of mutual trust”, as the club put it. Latest cup Odds are Available on Site

Boateng did not see eye-to-eye with Schalke’s then-coach Roberto Di Matteo.

Now he has the chance to avenge his departure with a win at Gelsenkirchen in Wednesday’s semi.

“It’s the place I have thought the most about – it was like a punch in the face,” he said.

With Manuel Neuer still sidelined, Sven Ulreich is relishing his time in the spotlight as Bayern Munich’s goalkeeper as he prepares for Wednesday’s Champions League quarterfinal return leg.

Ulreich found himself suddenly elevated to the club’s first-choice role in September when World Cup winner Neuer fractured his foot in training.

The 29-year-old will once more be between the posts against Sevilla at Munich’s sold-out Allianz Arena with the Germans on the verge of another Champions League semifinal. Latest betting odd on Naijabet

Bayern hold a 2-1 advantage and are bidding to reach the last four for the seventh time in nine seasons.

While the likes of Thomas Mueller and Robert Lewandowski are used to playing regularly in the knockout stages of European competition, it is a novelty for Ulreich.

A sixth successive Bundesliga title is just a matter of time for Bayern Munich, but their search for a coach to take over next season is proving far more complicated for the Bavarians.

With a massive 17-point lead, Bayern can wrap up the title with five games to spare if they win at midtable Augsburg on Saturday or if second-placed Schalke fail to beat Hamburg SV away.

Bayern have proved unstoppable since 72-year-old Jupp Heynckes, who led them to a league, cup and Champions League treble in 2013, was lured out of retirement in October to replace the sacked Carlo Ancelotti. Place bet on today’s games on NaijaBet

Under Heynckes, Bayern have won 18 out of 21 Bundesliga games, seven successive Champions League matches and reached the German Cup semifinals but, despite everything, the club could not persuade him to extend his fourth stint.

“I discussed it all with my wife and daughter because it wasn’t easy giving everything up at home at my age,” said Heynckes who is living in a Munich hotel.

Borussia Dortmund’s prolific Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has extended his contract with the club until 2021, German media reported on Sunday.

The 28-year-old finished as the leading scorer in the Bundesliga last season with 31 goals, one ahead of Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski, and he has netted 13 times in 15 matches this term. Place bet on today’s game on NaijaBet.com

His previous deal was due to run until June 2020. Kicker magazine said Aubameyang’s extension included an increase in his salary.

Aubameyang, who was born in France, joined Dortmund in 2013 from Saint-Etienne.

Hoffenheim had high expectations at the start of the season as they prepared to competed in the Champions League qualifying round for the first time.

Four months on and Julian Nagelsmann’s team has long bid farewell to Europe’s top club competition and is also out of the second-tier Europa League after a disappointing campaign. Place Bet on today’s games on NaijaBet.com

Following a good start to the season they struggled to replicate last year’s winning form that saw them finish in fourth place, their best finish ever.

A string of injuries and, for European first-timers Hoffenheim, an unusually busy match schedule looked to have taken its toll on the players.

But last week’s 4-0 demolition of second-placed RB Leipzig, including a sensational long-range strike by Serge Gnabry, lifted Hoffenheim to fifth and looks to have given them renewed hope as they prepare to face Hanover 96 on Sunday. Continue reading “Hoffenheim eyes to start winning run”

Bayer Leverkusen will be expected to stretch their eight-game unbeaten Bundesliga run on Saturday when they host an out-of-form Borussia Dortmund, whose coach Peter Bosz is likely to face the axe with another defeat.

Leverkusen have four wins and as many draws in their last eight league matches, a run that has enabled them to quietly climb the table up into sixth place on 20 points, one behind a free-falling Dortmund.

The team, coached by former Dortmund stalwart Heiko Herrlich, have gradually grown in confidence after a slow start to the campaign, with striker Kevin Volland netting in all three matches in November to take his league tally to eight. NaijaBet.com

With their Champions League days already numbered, Borussia Dortmund will be keen to return to domestic duties and seek to protect their lead at the top of the Bundesliga with a victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.

Dortmund had taken the Bundesliga by storm with six wins from their first seven matches before suffering their first loss of the season, to RB Leipzig, last week.

Their midweek 1-1 draw at Apoel Nicosia in the Champions League felt like another defeat and the 2013 finalists have now taken just one point from their first three group matches, leaving them staring at an early exit.

Dortmund’s exciting brand of attacking football has created something of a feel-good atmosphere at the club but another slip-up in Frankfurt might see that evaporate completely. Naija and Bet

Bayern Munich have “no more excuses”, interim captain Thomas Mueller said after veteran German coach Jupp Heynckes took over as manager of the Bundesliga champions.

Heynckes, 72, came out of retirement to take charge of the squad – his fourth stint with Bayern – when Carlo Ancelotti was sacked after a stinging 3-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

“A change of coach always releases energy, and I think we, the players, must now give a lot of ourselves. There are no more excuses,” said Mueller, at the Ingolstadt headquarters of Audi, a major sponsor of the club. Naija and Bet

“The sacred fire is still there with Jupp Heynckes, he has given off a lot of energy since Monday with his team of coaches,” the striker added.

Bayern Munich are continuing their search for a new manager after dispensing with the services of Carlo Ancelotti with Willy Sagnol in temporary charge of the reigning Bundesliga champions.

Bild reported on Tuesday that the Bundesliga giants could turn to a familiar face in the form of Louis van Gaal, who was in charge of the club between 2009 and 2011, winning a league and cup double in 2009-10 and taking Bayern to the Champions League final. Place Bet on Today’s Matches on NaijaBet.com.

Van Gaal’s last job, at Manchester United, came to an end last summer despite the 66-year-old leading the side to an FA Cup triumph.

If he is asked to return to Bayern Munich he will follow in the footsteps of several managers who have led the Bavarian outfit on more than one occasion such as Udo Lattek, Ottmar Hitzfeld and Giovanni Trapattoni.

However, Van Gaal is not the only candidate in the frame for the vacancy at the Allianz Arena with former Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel installed as the bookies’ favourite for the post.

Franck Ribery still sees himself as being on the level occupied by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, according to former Bayern Munich star Markus Babbel.

Babbel has slammed Ribery, who is out injured after suffering a serious knee ligament injury against Hertha Berlin on Sunday, in the wake of Carlo Ancelotti’s sacking as Bayern head coach. Place Bet on Today’s Matches on NaijaBet.com.

James Rodriguez scored his first Bundesliga goal on Tuesday to help Bayern Munich top the table for the first time this season following a 3-0 win at Schalke 04.

The Colombian was involved in all three goals after winning the penalty which Robert Lewandowski converted for the opening goal before his deft chip saw Arturo Vidal fire home.

After five games, the victory in Gelsenkirchen put defending champions Bayern top for the first time this season, but Borussia Dortmund can regain the lead if they win at Hamburg on Wednesday.

The away win was a boost for Bayern who confirmed Tuesday that goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer had undergone another operation on his left foot and is out until January. Place Bet on Today’s Matches on NaijaBet.com

Bayern, as always, are heavy favourites to win the Bundesliga and have added significant depth to their already strong squad.

It remains to be seen though, if manager Carlo Ancelotti’s side are able to compensate for the losses of Philipp Lahm and Xabi Alonso, who both retired this summer, to make another strong Champions League run.

Leverkusen want to get back on track after a disappointing season. New manager Heiko Herrlich is expected to improve the talented team’s mentality together with new signing Sven Bender, but it remains to be seen if this is enough for the club to reach the desired top-six spot at the end of the campaign.

Expect Bayern to try to dominate this game from the outset and make a first statement at home. NaijaBet

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